Self-optimization module for scheduling using case-based reasoning

Metaheuristics performance is highly dependent of the respective parameters which need to be tuned. Parameter tuning may allow a larger flexibility and robustness but requires a careful initialization. The process of defining which parameters setting should be used is not obvious. The values for parameters depend mainly on the problem, the instance to be solved, the search time available to spend in solving the problem, and the required quality of solution. This paper presents a learning module proposal for an autonomous parameterization of Metaheuristics, integrated on a Multi-Agent System for the resolution of Dynamic Scheduling problems. The proposed learning module is inspired on Autonomic Computing Self-Optimization concept, defining that systems must continuously and proactively improve their performance. For the learning implementation it is used Case-based Reasoning, which uses previous similar data to solve new cases. In the use of Case-based Reasoning it is assumed that similar cases have similar solutions. After a literature review on topics used, both AutoDynAgents system and Self-Optimization module are described. Finally, a computational study is presented where the proposed module is evaluated, obtained results are compared with previous ones, some conclusions are reached, and some future work is referred. It is expected that this proposal can be a great contribution for the self-parameterization of Metaheuristics and for the resolution of scheduling problems on dynamic environments.

Adaptive learning in multiagent systems: a forecasting methodology based on error analysis

Electricity markets are complex environments, involving a large number of different entities, playing in a dynamic scene to obtain the best advantages and profits. MASCEM is a multi-agent electricity market simu-lator to model market players and simulate their operation in the market. Market players are entities with specific characteristics and objectives, making their decisions and interacting with other players. MASCEM pro-vides several dynamic strategies for agents��� behaviour. This paper presents a method that aims to provide market players strategic bidding capabilities, allowing them to obtain the higher possible gains out of the market. This method uses an auxiliary forecasting tool, e.g. an Artificial Neural Net-work, to predict the electricity market prices, and analyses its forecasting error patterns. Through the recognition of such patterns occurrence, the method predicts the expected error for the next forecast, and uses it to adapt the actual forecast. The goal is to approximate the forecast to the real value, reducing the forecasting error.

Problem-Based Learning e suas implica����es: breve revis��o te��rica

A ESTSP-IPP implementou em 2008-2009 um novo modelo pedag��gico, o PBL, em tr��s licenciaturas. Este modelo tem sido considerado capaz de promover a aquisi����o de conhecimentos mas tamb��m o desenvolvimento de compet��ncias transversais valorizadas no mercado de trabalho; orienta-se em torno de problemas significativos da realidade profissional, trabalhados segundo a metodologia dos sete passos, destacando-se a aprendizagem atrav��s de pesquisa individual e trabalho de grupo; e visa ainda desenvolver processos cognitivos e metacognitivos como levantar hip��teses, comparar, analisar, interpretar e avaliar. Neste artigo, caracterizamos brevemente o modelo e respectivas implica����es, justificando o interesse em investigar as repercuss��es da sua implementa����o.

Motivations in volunteer work

The objective of this paper is to review and discuss the literature about volunteers��� motivations to donate their time to NGOs (Non Governmental Organisations). According to Parboteeah, Cullenb & Lim (2004) management research has not paid much attention to voluntarism, however, voluntarism is a substantial part of productive work for many societies. Wilson & Pimm (1996) show that in Great Britain about 39% of the adult population has been involved in some volunteer activity for some period of time. In the U.S.A. these values reach 50% (Wilson & Pimm, 1996). Considering the benefits that voluntarism can bring to an organisation, we understand that more attention must be devoted to this phenomenon. The more an organisation knows volunteers, the better this organisation will be able to meet the needs and expectations of these individuals. We present a literature review that illustrates and compares the different motivations associated with volunteer work. The paper includes a bibliographical databases search in specialised journals. The search used the key words ���motivations��� and ���voluntarism��� (in the heading and text body) and covered all numbers between 2000 and 2007. We identify the existence of repeated motivations (Holmberg & S��derlung, 2005; Prouteau & Wolff, 2008; Soupourmas & Ironmonger, 2001; Yavas & Riecken, 1997), which allow the establishment of a typology of volunteers��� motivations, based on four categories: altruism, social needs, self-esteem, learning and self-development. Finally we identify three main gaps in the literature that justify further research. First, research focusing on the differences between motivations related to volunteers��� "Attraction" versus "Retention" in NGO���s is nil. Second, the great majority of the studies rely on north American (USA and Canada) and Australian context, which demands for further research in European countries. Third, the majority of NGOs researched are related to sport, art or the environment, and it would be interesting to explore the relationship between motivation and NGO type. These questions may obtain interesting answers for NGO management, in particular with regard to volunteer attraction and retention.

Motivations and management factors of volunteer work in nonprofit organisations: a literature review

The objective of this paper is to review and discuss the literature about volunteers��� motivations to donate their time to NPOs and the management factors that can influence volunteer work. Firstly, the paper illustrates and compares the different types of motivation followed by a presentation of a typology that organises the volunteers��� motivations into four types: (i) altruism, (ii) belonging, (iii) ego and social recognition and (iv) development and learning. Secondly we discuss the key management factors in volunteering: recruitment, training and rewarding. Finally, we present four gaps in the literature that justify the scope for further research: (i) omission of differences between motivations related to volunteers��� "Attraction" versus "Retention"; (ii) focus of the research on the USA, UK and Australia context; (iii) absence of comparative analyses that relate motivations by NPO types and (iv) comprehension of how management factors (recruitment, training and rewarding) influence volunteers��� satisfaction and retention.

Pesticide residues in Portuguese strawberries grown in 2009���2010 using integrated pest management and organic farming

Pesticides are among the most widely used chemicals in the world. Because of the widespread use of agricultural chemicals in food production, people are exposed to low levels of pesticide residues through their diets. Scientists do not yet have a total understanding of the health effects of these pesticide residues. This work aims to determine differences in terms of pesticide residue content in Portuguese strawberries grown using different agriculture practices. The Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe sample preparation method was conducted and shown to have good performance for multiclass pesticides extraction in strawberries. The screening of 25 pesticides residue was performed by gas chromatography���tandem mass spectrometry. In quantitative validation, acceptable performances were achieved with recoveries of 70���120 and <12 % residual standard deviation for 25 pesticides. Good linearity was obtained for all the target compounds, with highly satisfactory repeatability. The limits of detection were in the range of 0.1���28 ��g/kg. The method was applied to analyze strawberry samples from organic and integrated pest management (IPM) practices harvested in 2009���2010. The results showed the presence of fludioxonil, bifenthrin, mepanipyrim, tolylfluanid, cyprodinil, tetraconazole, and malathion when using IPM below the maximum residue levels.

Sistema de recomenda����o para plataformas de e-learning

O aumento do n��mero de recursos digitais dispon��veis dificulta a tarefa de pesquisa dos recursos mais relevantes, no sentido de se obter o que �� mais relevante. Assim sendo, um novo tipo de ferramentas, capaz de recomendar os recursos mais apropriados ��s necessidades do utilizador, torna-se cada vez mais necess��rio. O objetivo deste trabalho de I&D �� o de implementar um m��dulo de recomenda����o inteligente para plataformas de e-learning. As recomenda����es baseiam-se, por um lado, no perfil do utilizador durante o processo de forma����o e, por outro lado, nos pedidos efetuados pelo utilizador, atrav��s de pesquisas [Tavares, Faria e Martins, 2012]. O e-learning 3.0 �� um projeto QREN desenvolvido por um conjunto de organiza����es e tem com objetivo principal implementar uma plataforma de e-learning. Este trabalho encontra-se inserido no projeto e-learning 3.0 e consiste no desenvolvimento de um m��dulo de recomenda����o inteligente (MRI). O MRI utiliza diferentes t��cnicas de recomenda����o j�� aplicadas noutros sistemas de recomenda����o. Estas t��cnicas s��o utilizadas para criar um sistema de recomenda����o h��brido direcionado para a plataforma de e-learning. Para representar a informa����o relevante, sobre cada utilizador, foi constru��do um modelo de utilizador. Toda a informa����o necess��ria para efetuar a recomenda����o ser�� representada no modelo do utilizador, sendo este modelo atualizado sempre que necess��rio. Os dados existentes no modelo de utilizador ser��o utilizados para personalizar as recomenda����es produzidas. As recomenda����es est��o divididas em dois tipos, a formal e a n��o formal. Na recomenda����o formal o objetivo �� fazer sugest��es relacionadas a um curso espec��fico. Na recomenda����o n��o-formal, o objetivo �� fazer sugest��es mais abrangentes onde as recomenda����es n��o est��o associadas a nenhum curso. O sistema proposto �� capaz de sugerir recursos de aprendizagem, com base no perfil do utilizador, atrav��s da combina����o de t��cnicas de similaridade de palavras, um algoritmo de clustering e t��cnicas de filtragem [Tavares, Faria e Martins, 2012].

Correc����o autom��tica de respostas de texto livre para a aplica����o UNI_NET-Classroom

Ao longo dos tempos foi poss��vel constatar que uma grande parte do tempo dos professores �� gasta na componente de avalia����o. Por esse facto, h�� j�� algumas d��cadas que a correc����o autom��tica de texto livre �� alvo de investiga����o. Sendo a correc����o de exerc��cios efectuada pelo computador permite que o professor dedique o seu tempo em tarefas que melhorem a aprendizagem dos alunos. Para al��m disso, cada vez mais as novas tecnologias permitem o uso de ferramentas com bastante utilidade no ensino, pois para al��m de facilitarem a exposi����o do conhecimento tamb��m permitem uma maior reten����o da informa����o. Logo, associar ferramentas de gest��o de sala de aula �� correc����o autom��tica de respostas de texto livre �� um desafio bastante interessante. O objectivo desta disserta����o foi a realiza����o de um estudo relativamente �� ��rea de avalia����o assistida por computador em que este trabalho se insere. Inicialmente, foram analisados alguns correctores ortogr��ficos para seleccionar aquele que seria integrado no m��dulo proposto. De seguida, foram estudadas as t��cnicas mais relevantes e as ferramentas que mais se enquadram no ��mbito deste trabalho. Neste contexto, a ideia foi partir da exist��ncia de uma ferramenta de gest��o de sala de aula e desenvolver um m��dulo para a correc����o de exerc��cios. A aplica����o UNI_NET-Classroom, que foi a ferramenta para a qual o m��dulo foi desenvolvido, j�� continha um componente de gest��o de exerc��cios que apenas efectuava a correc����o para as respostas de escolha m��ltipla. Com este trabalho pretendeu-se acrescentar mais uma funcionalidade a esse componente, cujo intuito �� dar apoio ao professor atrav��s da correc����o de exerc��cios e sugest��o da cota����o a atribuir. Por ��ltimo, foram realizadas v��rias experi��ncias sobre o m��dulo desenvolvido, de forma a ser poss��vel retirar algumas conclus��es para o presente trabalho. A conclus��o mais importante foi que as ferramentas de correc����o autom��tica s��o uma mais-valia para os professores e escolas.

Adaptive learning in agents behaviour: a framework for electricity markets simulation

Electricity markets are complex environments with very particular characteristics. A critical issue regarding these specific characteristics concerns the constant changes they are subject to. This is a result of the electricity markets��� restructuring, which was performed so that the competitiveness could be increased, but it also had exponential implications in the increase of the complexity and unpredictability in those markets scope. The constant growth in markets unpredictability resulted in an amplified need for market intervenient entities in foreseeing market behaviour. The need for understanding the market mechanisms and how the involved players��� interaction affects the outcomes of the markets, contributed to the growth of usage of simulation tools. Multi-agent based software is particularly well fitted to analyze dynamic and adaptive systems with complex interactions among its constituents, such as electricity markets. This dissertation presents ALBidS ��� Adaptive Learning strategic Bidding System, a multiagent system created to provide decision support to market negotiating players. This system is integrated with the MASCEM electricity market simulator, so that its advantage in supporting a market player can be tested using cases based on real markets��� data. ALBidS considers several different methodologies based on very distinct approaches, to provide alternative suggestions of which are the best actions for the supported player to perform. The approach chosen as the players��� actual action is selected by the employment of reinforcement learning algorithms, which for each different situation, simulation circumstances and context, decides which proposed action is the one with higher possibility of achieving the most success. Some of the considered approaches are supported by a mechanism that creates profiles of competitor players. These profiles are built accordingly to their observed past actions and reactions when faced with specific situations, such as success and failure. The system���s context awareness and simulation circumstances analysis, both in terms of results performance and execution time adaptation, are complementary mechanisms, which endow ALBidS with further adaptation and learning capabilities.

Planning and implementing a new assessment strategy using an e-learning platform

One of the most difficult issues of e-Learning is the students��� assessment. Being this an outstanding task regarding theoretical topics, it becomes even more challenging when the topics under evaluation are practical. ISCAP���s Information Systems Department is composed of about twenty teachers who have been for several years using an e-learning environment (at the moment Moodle 2.3) combined with traditional assessment. They are now planning and implementing a new e-learning assessment strategy. This effort was undertaken in order to evaluate a practical topic (the use of spreadsheets to solve management problems) common to shared courses of several undergraduate degree programs. The same team group is already experienced in the assessment of theoretical information systems topics using the b-learning platform. Therefore, this project works as an extension to previous experiences being the team aware of the additional difficulties due to the practical nature of the topics. This paper describes this project and presents two cycles of the action research methodology, used to conduct the research. The first cycle goal was to produce a database of questions. When it was implemented in order to be used with a pilot group of students, several problems were identified. Subsequently, the second cycle consisted in solving the identified problems preparing the database and all the players to a broader scope implementation. For each cycle, all the phases, its drawbacks and achievements are described. This paper suits all those who are or are planning to be in the process of shifting their assessment strategy from a traditional to one supported by an e-learning platform.

Implementa����o de cursos em regime de e-learning em ambiente hospitalar. A MEDUCA como suporte

A sociedade moderna encontra-se numa evolu����o progressiva e constante no que respeita ��s novas tecnologias. Independentemente da ��rea de conhecimento, �� de senso comum, que cada vez mais �� necess��ria forma����o s��lida, sendo fundamental a prepara����o e a consolida����o das futuras gera����es na utiliza����o das novas tecnologias. As plataformas de e-learning s��o hoje em dia uma realidade mais que afirmada, e com aplica����o em todos os sectores de actividade. A ��rea da sa��de n��o foge �� regra, verificando-se que os seus profissionais evidenciam falta de disponibilidade para participa����o nas forma����es presenciais, fundamentais para o seu processo de forma����o cont��nua (LLL ��� Long Liffe Learning). Estes profissionais necessitam de estar continuamente actualizados, de forma a melhor poderem contribuir para o desempenho das suas fun����es, como o aconselhamento dos utentes, acompanhamento de doentes cr��nicos, uso correcto dos medicamentos, entre outros. O presente trabalho pretende implementar em ambiente hospitalar o modelo de forma����o �� dist��ncia em regime de e-learning ou b-learning, identificando potenciais vantagens e constrangimentos inerentes ao processo. Para o efeito, ser�� utilizada a plataforma MEDUCA criada pelo GILT-ISEP e baseada em Moodle, como uma plataforma destinada �� forma����o para profissionais da ��rea da Sa��de. Esta disserta����o apresenta uma investiga����o sobre a implementa����o da dita plataforma em ambiente hospitalar. Esta disserta����o apresenta todo o estudo/trabalho desenvolvido para a implementa����o da plataforma MEDUCA nalgumas entidades contactadas da ��rea da sa��de. Espera-se que esta ferramenta ofere��a uma alternativa interactiva de educa����o e aprendizagem, visando melhorar constantemente o n��vel formativo de cada profissional de sa��de.

Defining and Classifying Learning Outcomes: A case study

Bologne came to globalize education in higher education, creating a unified architecture that potentiates higher education and enhances the continued interconnection of the spaces of education policy in higher education in the world, in particular in Europe. The aim of this work consists in the presentation of an identification model and skills��� classification and learning outcomes, based on the official documents of the course units (syllabus and assessment components) of a course of Higher Education. We are aware that the adoption of this model by different institutions, will contribute to interoperability learning outcomes, thus enhancing the mobility of teachers and students in the EHEA (European Higher Education Area) and third countries.

TRAILER Project (Tagging, Recognition, Acknowledgment of Informal Learning Experiences) a methodology to make learners' informal learning activities visible to the institutions

The application of information technologies (specially the Internet, Web 2.0 and social tools) make informal learning more visible. This kind of learning is not linked to an institution or a period of time, but it is important enough to be taken into account. On the one hand, learners should be able to communicate to the institutions they are related to, what skills they possess, whether they were achieved in a formal or informal way. On the other hand the companies and educational institutions need to have a deeper knowledge about the competencies of their staff. The TRAILER project provides a methodology supported by a technological framework to facilitate communication about informal learning between businesses, employees and learners. The paper presents the project and some of the work carried out, an exploratory analysis about how informal learning is considered and the technological framework proposed. Whilst challenges remain in terms of establishing the meaningfulness of technological engagement for employees and businesses, the continuing transformation of the social, technological and educational environment is likely to lead to greater emphasis for the effective exploitation of informal learning.

Orchestration of e-learning services for automatic evaluation of programming exercises

Managing programming exercises require several heterogeneous systems such as evaluation engines, learning objects repositories and exercise resolution environments. The coordination of networks of such disparate systems is rather complex. These tools would be too specific to incorporate in an e-Learning platform. Even if they could be provided as pluggable components, the burden of maintaining them would be prohibitive to institutions with few courses in those domains. This work presents a standard based approach for the coordination of a network of e-Learning systems participating on the automatic evaluation of programming exercises. The proposed approach uses a pivot component to orchestrate the interaction among all the systems using communication standards. This approach was validated through its effective use on classroom and we present some preliminary results.

An integrated recycling approach for GFRP pultrusion wastes: recycling and reuse assessment into new composite materials using Fuzzy Boolean Nets

In this study, efforts were made in order to put forward an integrated recycling approach for the thermoset based glass fibre reinforced polymer (GPRP) rejects derived from the pultrusion manufacturing industry. Both the recycling process and the development of a new cost-effective end-use application for the recyclates were considered. For this purpose, i) among the several available recycling techniques for thermoset based composite materials, the most suitable one for the envisaged application was selected (mechanical recycling); and ii) an experimental work was carried out in order to assess the added-value of the obtained recyclates as aggregates and reinforcement replacements into concrete-polymer composite materials. Potential recycling solution was assessed by mechanical behaviour of resultant GFRP waste modified concrete-polymer composites with regard to unmodified materials. In the mix design process of the new GFRP waste based composite material, the recyclate content and size grade, and the effect of the incorporation of an adhesion promoter were considered as material factors and systematically tested between reasonable ranges. The optimization process of the modified formulations was supported by the Fuzzy Boolean Nets methodology, which allowed finding the best balance between material parameters that maximizes both flexural and compressive strengths of final composite. Comparing to related end-use applications of GFRP wastes in cementitious based concrete materials, the proposed solution overcome some of the problems found, namely the possible incompatibilities arisen from alkalis-silica reaction and the decrease in the mechanical properties due to high water-cement ratio required to achieve the desirable workability. Obtained results were very promising towards a global cost-effective waste management solution for GFRP industrial wastes and end-of-life products that will lead to a more sustainable composite materials industry.